- What is being proposed?
Piloting increased bike access for at least six months in the northernmost section of the park, which begins at the north parking lot. Bikes are currently allowed on some paths in this section, but not all. The pilot could be further defined by certain times of day (or before or after certain times of day), certain days of the week, or both. It does not need to include e-bikes.
- Wait, isn’t biking already allowed throughout the park?
Generations of Napa residents have learned to ride off-road in Alston Park and regularly visit the park to learn and practice. Most people believe biking is allowed, as is listed on websites. However, upon closer inspection of Park signage, users will find that biking is currently restricted to the Park’s paved and gravel roads only. This is by City ordinance and applies to all City of Napa parks.
- Why is more bike access needed?
Alston is the only terrain in Napa most people consider suitable for beginners and those learning to ride off-road. This is why many parents bring their children there to learn.
- Why not just learn at Skyline?
“Not one solitary trail in Skyline, including Lake Marie Road, is considered beginner-friendly,” Darin Cravea, Skyline Park Director. Mr. Cravea has explained that though there is interest in building beginner trails, there are no near-term plans to do so, as the mountains Skyline comprises don’t really allow it. As well, Skyline is difficult to access for some, and especially youth, because nearly everyone needs to drive there and pay an entry fee, which means youth are dependent on their parents’ availability, understanding of biking and hauling bikes, and likely their financial support as well. Even if someone can overcome these barriers, they still will not have access to beginner-friendly riding.
- What about the pump track? I heard Skyline is going to build one for little kids, too.
Pump tracks are designed for BMX style riding, not off-road riding. They are smooth courses designed so riders do not have to pedal. Conversely, riding off-road means learning to pedal through quick changes in grades, over loose debris (sticks, rocks, leaves, etc.), over roots and natural indentations, etc.—none of which are found on a smooth, wide pump track. Plus, momentum on a pump track is lost when riding a bike with suspension, as is found on mountain bikes.
- Would increasing bike access mean an increase in Park users?
We anticipate any increase would be negligible. Most people who are interested in riding in Alston Park already ride there. As well, because it is like the “bunny slopes” of mountain biking and because it is small compared to places where intermediate and advanced riders ride, it would most likely not be a draw or a destination for mountain bikers, but just an accessible place for beginners to learn.
- Can mixing hikers, dogs, runners, horses and bikes (and hot air balloons!) be done safely?
The evidence points to yes. A recent California State Parks study found that “Actual incidents, including those involving accidents, between trail users are relatively rare.” Local leaders at Skyline Park and the Open Space District where user groups regularly mix have not received reports of collisions between user groups, and anyone who uses the Vine Trail experiences dogs, walkers, and bicycles in close proximity every day with success. As well, Napa’s cross-country mountain bike team practiced at Alston Park regularly for three seasons, between 2019 and 2022 (with 2020 off for COVID), without incident to other users, who often thanked them for being courteous and were interested to learn about the team. (Permission to ride was granted under a special use permit, which the City did not renew this year.) This pilot would take place only in an area where dogs are required to be on-leash, and would not extend biking to the off-leash area.
- Are the trails at Alston Park safe and appropriately designed for biking?
The trail experts we spoke with believe it is a safer place to ride, given the beginner-friendly trails and ample sight lines, than other local parks. As well, according to the CA State Parks’ Trails Handbook Design Requirements: “Design for multi-use trails should be based on the highest standards for the intended user groups. Equestrian trails have the highest design and construction standards, so those are the minimum standards for any multi-use trail. (Chapter 9.3)” Essentially, since Alston has already been deemed appropriate for equestrians, the standards for other users, including bicyclists, have already been met.
- Does the Alston easement allow biking?
City staff met with City attorneys and confirmed that the easement does not prevent biking. An expired charter limited use at Alston to “passive recreation,” but even if the charter had not expired, it wouldn’t preclude biking. The type of off-road riding, called “cross-country mountain biking” that would be available at Alston is considered passive use (here is a long explanation for those interested). Even if the easement were a barrier, City officials have shown their willingness to get around it. The easement does not allow for commercial uses, yet hot air balloons are allowed to land there.
- Would allowing bikes cause more wear on the trails than dogs, horses, and hikers? We know the City just assessed all parks and Napa’s parks, in short, are not in great shape.
Studies show that hikers and bikers produce about the same amount of wear, and horses produce much more. As the linked resource points out: “Poor design, such as [a] steep fall-line trail, causes erosion more than any particular use.”
- Has the community given input on this proposed change of use?
The purpose of the pilot would be to gather input from a larger swath of the community. It would allow them to provide input via a survey/QR code on their actual experience of the change rather than their imagined experience, which would provide better data. We, the Bike Coalition, have reached out to many people and groups, including non-bikers, dog owners, and equestrians, and have discovered little push back about the change. Again, most people believe that biking is already allowed and are used to navigating youth and families on bikes in the Park.
- Would a pilot mean changes to the Park? Would it be expensive?
No and no. Other than signage, which NCBC has offered to pay for, the expense would likely be limited to some staff time to design a survey and to communicate about the pilot, which could be done in the City’s newsletter. While there are likely a few more costs, essentially the cost of doing business, we are confident this is one of the lowest cost requests before the City currently. As seen in this photo, the park is already signed for multi-use trail sharing.
- With the condition of parks overall in Napa, don’t staff already have a lot on their plates?
Yes, and we are aware of the challenges they face. This is why we brought a request that is a simple proposed change of use, rather than a built environment change that would need to be budgeted and would cost a lot of money. It’s likely the City will have to say a lot of “no’s” in the coming years, and it is our opinion that this request could be a much easier yes.
- Why didn’t the need for beginner off-road riding arise in the 2009 Park Master Plan?
Again, most people we have encountered believe biking is already allowed in the park, so they wouldn’t have recognized the need. As well, Napa is very different place for bikes in 2023 than it was in 2009. Both the Vine Trail Coalition and the Bike Coalition were just getting started in 2008, Napa now has a middle and high school mountain bike team, and between the pandemic and the availability of e-bikes, interest in biking has increased.
- What about liability?
With California’s trail immunity statute, public entities are not liable for injuries on trails used for recreational purposes. While there are nuances to this and anyone can attempt to sue anyone for anything at any time, this provides a degree of protection that is uncommonly high. As well, the park experts we have spoken with believe dogs, and specifically the interaction between dogs and horses, create the highest risk in terms of liability, and Alston Park already allows those users in addition to already allowing bikes on some of its paths.
- If the City allow hikers, runners, dogs, horses, and hot air balloons in Alston Park, why not bikes?
It’s tough to say. There are pro-bike policies in Napa’s General Plan, Napa’s public works department is beginning to implement new, upgraded bike lanes, and the City supports the Safe Routes to School Partnership for the entire county (a program that encourages youth to walk or ride to school). It seems that not offering a beginner-friendly off-road riding area when one is available is inconsistent with the City’s efforts to promote biking. It also seems inconsistent with its General Plan Goal 5, “Foster connections to nature and open spaces”, and Goal 7, which includes promoting biking as part of a healthy and safe community for all.
- How could expanding bike access at Alston Park benefit the community?
Increasing access to healthy outdoor activities is important for mental and physical health and for creating lifelong healthy habits that can improve community health and the environment. Building bike confidence early means more youth will feel equipped to ride to school, which reduces traffic congestion around school sites and even increases academic performance. Biking, including off-road riding, is great for youth development; it builds self-efficacy and independence and gives youth something fun to do that does not involve a screen. Learning and practicing trail etiquette young also helps teach cooperation and respect and can build good will among diverse users, who may also be neighbors. For these and more reasons, biking can contribute to a healthier, more connected community.
